marvel studios
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters Friday, May 6.
- The film was screened for critics and journalists on Monday evening.
- Early reactions to the Sam Raimi project are hailing the film as the MCU’s first horror film.
The first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie of 2022 — Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – was screened for critics and reporters on Monday night, and early reviews for the film are hailing the project as the MCU’s first legitimately scary film.
Personally, I felt that Multiverse of Madness looks a lot like both a Sam Raimi movie and a day in the life of the Sorcerer Supreme. It’s the perfected MCU formula: despite the franchise/multiversal implications and revelations, the film is very self-contained and focused on its own story and style.
Multiverse of Madness also does an amazing job of figuring out what makes Doctor Strange so cool and capitalizes on those powers and flaws, in terms of visuals, plot, and thematics. It mixes classic MCU elements with superhero sequel arcs and legitimate horror tropes.
As for the horror in the film: did it hit any home runs? I’m not so sure. But did it take big swings? Absolutely. As for the Multiverse, unlike No Way Home, the reveals don’t feel like the backbone of the plot, but rather the icing on the cake of a pure Doctor Strange story.
Reviews and critics’ reactions Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Ranking MCU Sequels (Not Including Infinity War, Endgame, and NHW)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Thor: Ragnarok#MultiverseOfMadness
Captain America: Civil War
GOTG Vol. 2
Spider-Man: Far From Home
iron man 3
Avengers: Age of Ultron
iron man 2
Thor: The Dark World https://t.co/C4gYsSxEku— Eric Italiano (@ericitaIiano) May 3, 2022
Hands down the scariest, gnarliest, goofiest, haunting, and terrifying Marvel movie, #MultiverseOfMadness definitely brings in the Sam Raimi horror vibes, and I loved it. Danny Elfman’s music suits the weird and mysterious tone of the film perfectly and Elizabeth Olsen is MVP, imo pic.twitter.com/R5Ybhnd4rl
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) May 3, 2022
#DoctorStrange in the rules of the multiverse of madness. It’s inventive, genuinely bizarre and absolutely a ride to watch. I didn’t realize how much the MCU needed something like this.
I will have so many other thoughts to @BD very, very soon. pic.twitter.com/neRFGfhlMG
— Jenna Anderson (@heyitsjennalynn) May 3, 2022
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the weirdest, grossest Marvel movie yet. It’s extremely disjointed, partly on purpose, so it doesn’t always work but the horror, and especially Wanda, works incredibly well. And wow. What huge surprises. pic.twitter.com/HwZUZ4Nygw
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) May 3, 2022
#DoctorStrangeintheMultiverseofMadness is absolutely insane. Completely crazy one might say. Hardcore fans will bug. Casual fans will go WTF, I’m watching? But I don’t know if anyone will deny that it’s Sam Raimi to the max, and Elizabeth Olsen owns it from start to finish.
— Kevin Polowy (@djkevlar) May 3, 2022
#DoctorStrange is filled with hugely entertaining sequences, heavy characters, and kaleidoscopic, trippy visuals. Xochitl Gomez is a scene stealer. Elizabeth Olsen is the owner. Benedict Cumberbatch, superb. Doubles as a good entry point for Beginners Horror. At Raimi’s signature. pic.twitter.com/0S6tF9dP9h
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) May 3, 2022
#MultiverseOfMadness is deliciously silly. Pleasant surprise: The best funniest bits are all distinctly Sam Raimi.
— Siddhant Adlakha (@SiddhantAdlakha) May 3, 2022
Good ! Marvel fans finally got their horror movie. #DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness is a dark and wildly imaginative creation from the twisted and brilliant mind of Sam Raimi. I dug the hell out of it. Study your comic book knowledge… Superhero fans will lose their minds! pic.twitter.com/TkwwInCz4W
— Clayton Davis – Stick with 🇺🇦 (@ByClaytonDavis) May 3, 2022
#DoctorStrange: MARVEL HAS MADE A HORROR FILM! It’s bizarre, scary and deserves the title “Multiverse of Madness”. If you were the least bit afraid this movie wouldn’t feel like Sam Raimi enough, never fear! I can’t imagine a more Sam Raimi MCU movie. My genre-loving heart is bursting right now. pic.twitter.com/9we5vMpXhy
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) May 3, 2022
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessdirected by Spider Man filmmaker Sam Raimi and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams, is set to hit theaters in the United States on Friday, May 6.
Multiverse of Madness will be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie of 2022, followed by Thor: Love and Thunder July 8 then Black Panther: Wakanda Forever the 11th of November. There are also a host of TV series on Disney+ – such as Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulkand season 2 of What if…? — This year.
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